Roof batten or the like



Aug. 15, 1967 A; MACKEY ROOF BATTEN OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 23, 1962 INVEN'I OR GEORGEA. MACKEY b X$ QQ;

United States Patent 3,335,537 ROOF BATTEN OR THE LIKE George A. Mackey,McCandless Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor toMiller-Thomas-Gyekis, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 23,1962, Ser. No. 211,808 7 Claims. (Cl. 52463) This invention relates to aroof batten or the like. More particularly, this invention pertains to ametal batten for a roof seam or the like in which elongated gutter andcap sections are relatively unrestrained for expansion and contractionby direct or substantially direct attachment to the roof itself withoutloss of watertight integrity of the battened seam, or diminution of theability to hold roofing sheets in place.

In a practice of this invention, a system of batten roofing is providedfor any sloped roof surface, such as a ridge-to-eave seam, comprisingreadily formed metal gutter, retainer channel, holder clips and capsections in which gutter and cap elements are not tied to the roofconstruction. Thereby, gutter and cap sections are relativelyunrestrained with freedom to float in the course of expansion andcontraction of the long gutter and cap sections extending the length ofthe seam with their respective ends in lapped relation. At the sametime, those sections are held in place in the roofing system by relatively short retainer and holder members in batten devices of thisinvention, the retainer also being free to move relative to the holderwhich provides direct attachment of the batten to the roofingconstruction.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings,which are illustrative only, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of this inventionwith portions broken away to clarify the structure there shown;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 with aportion of the cap element removed for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation viewed in the direction of line III-IIIof FIGURE 2 FIGURE 4 is a view in side elevation of the gutter andretainer element in assembled position in the foregoing embodiment;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to that shown in FIGURE 4 with the holderelements added;

FIGURE 6 is the same as FIGURE 5 with the addition that the margin ofthe nearer roofing sheet has been shown alongside the batten with theinner edge of the roofing sheet hooked over and bent down within thegutter;

FIGURE 7 shows the completed batten of the aforesaid embodiment with thecap element in place and secured by a fastener screw to the retainer;

FIGURE 8 is a detail view of the holder clip used in the embodiment ofFIGURES 1 to 7, inclusive, formed of extruded metal;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view showing a further embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 10 is a view in cross section of such further embodiment takenalong line XX of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view in side elevation of such further embodiment, withparts broken away, taken generally in the direction of line XIXI ofFIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 12 is a detail view of a holder clip used in such furtherembodiment and made of formed sheet metal.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 8, inclusive, there is shown therein acombination batten 10 utilized to provide a roof seam, such as one fromridge to eave on a sloped roof,

which binds and covers the adjoining edges of metal roofing sheets 11 toeach side thereof in a roofing system.

As shown, each batten 10 is fastened to a rafter beam 12 and includes anelongated trough-shaped gutter section 13, an elongated invertedtrough-shaped cap section 14, a retainer element 15, preferably inchannel form, holder members 16 adapted to be secured to the roofingconstruction and fasteners, which may be in the form of bolts or screws17 to fasten the cap sections along the length of the seam to therespective retainers 15. Generally, for longer seams, a plurality oftrough sections 13 and cap sections 14 will be utilized in end-to-endlapped relation with the lower end of the immediately higher section ona sloped roof being telescoped over the upper end of the next lowersection, respectively, swaging commonly being used to provide good fitat the laps. As an example, such gutter and cap lengths may be ten tofifteen feet long, whereas retainer members 15 may be about six incheslong and spaced eighteen inches apart in the continuous gutter along thelength of the battened seam. Preferably a pair of holder clips 16 isused for each retainer 15, although a different number may be utilizedif desired.

In the embodiment being described, the batten parts are of any suitablemetal compatible with other parts and for the service in which they areto be used. As shown, the gutter and cap members 13 and 14 are of lightgauge sheet metal which is pressed or rolled to the desired shape which,as shown, has the respective sides flaring, upwardly in the case ofgutter 13 and downwardly in the case of cap 14. Channel 15 and clips 16,on the other hand, as shown, are of compatible extruded metal forrigidity and strength. Channel 15 has a top or web portion 18 and flangeor leg portions 19 which converge downwardly to suit the slope of thesides 20 of gutter 13 while the bottom edges of the legs 19 engage theflat bottom 21 of gutter 13. Being of channel shape, retainer 15 doesnot impede the draining away of any moisture which may get up undercover 14 and into gutter 13. Water passes through gutter 13 to the cavewhere it is discharged, e.g., into an eave gutter.

Web 18 is provided with a longitudinally extending central groove 22 onthe upper surface thereof for ready centering of a drill used to drill ahole or holes through the top of cap 14 and into the center of web 18for a screw fastener 17, each hole made in web 18 usually being tappedfollowing such drilling unless screw 17 is a self-tapping screw. Ifdesired, the cap lengths 14 may have the holes therein for fasteners 17made before the battens are assembled at the site where they are to beused, although the Web 18 usually will be drilled and tapped on the siteas a simpler act than trying to bring preformed fastener holes in cap 14and retainer 15 into registry. Each web 18 in the first embodiment isalso provided with a rabbet or recess 23 at each upper corner to seatthe respective inner edges 24 of the holder clips 16.

Each clip 16 is generally L-shaped in cross section and provided with abase or foot 25 having holes 26 therein for fasteners such as woodscrews 27 to aifix clips 16 directly to rafter beam 12 in the roofingconstruction. The bases 25 are sloped laterally downwardly and outwardlywhen wood screws 27 are to be toed in for increased holding power. Theclips 16 are preferably longitudinally displaced in that case as shownin FIGURE 2, so that the screws 27 on one side are longitudinally offsetfrom the screws 27 on the opposite side, thereby retaining full holdingpower despite the end view convergence of such screws toward a verticalcentral longitudinal plane through the axes of fasteners 17. Each base25 is provided with a heel 25a for more secure alfixation andpredetermined positioning of clips 16 to the roofing construction. Eachclip rises from its base in an outer wall portion 28 3 paralleling theadjacent side 20 of gutter 13 and then makes a reentrant turn 29 at thetop of the clip to start a downwardly extending inner wall 30 parallelto the other side of the adjacent side 28 of gutter 13, such inner wallterminating at its lower end in the edge 24.

In use, a batten is assembled at the site of use and gutter 13 is helddown in the illustrated embodiment by a plurality of channels inlongitudinally spaced relation inside gutter 13, each channel being heldin turn by afiixing clips 16 tied to the roofing construction 12 byscrews 27. The edges 24 of clips are seated in the corner recesses 23 ofretainer 15, thus providing minimal friction and aligned relativemovement of parts in batten 10 under expansion and contraction forcesbecause the surface area in engagement between clips 16 and channel 15is relatively small and tends toward a line type of contact. At the sametime, the length of contact between clips 16 and their channel 15insures relatively aligned movement therebetween. Further, the channels15 in trough 13 are preferably spaced from sides 26 and have relativelysmall area engagement between the bottom of legs 19 and bottom 21 of thegutter. The roofing sheets 11 to each side of the batten are bent up atmargins 34 and then hooked down as indicated at 34a over each of theupstanding sides of the batten gutters and clips beneath cover 14. Thecap section or sections 14 comprise the cover of batten 10 from one endto the other by means of the arch or inverted trough provided by topportion 32 and integral sides 33 which flare somewhat outwardly in adownwardly direction to lie close to or against the bent-up margins 34of the roof sheets 11. Screws 17 are then inserted at longitudinallyspaced intervals generally corresponding to the centers of the spacedchannels 15, the screws 17 being inserted either through pre-punchedholes along the ridge of the cap piece, or through such holes drilled atthe time of drilling of at least one hole 35 in each channel 15 asdescribed above, to engage the lower threads of screw fastener 17 andretain cap 14 in place without being immovably affixed relative. Agasket 36 may be placed under the head of screw 17 before it is insertedand tightened to bind the batten assembly together and the hookedportion 34a of the roofing sheets 11 between the underside of the cap 14and the upper edges of sides 20, or the respective bends 29 of clips 16.The cap sections 14, like the gutter sections, are preferably of lightgauge sheet metal which also may be formed by a press brake, or thosemembers may be extruded or otherwise shaped, if desired. The roofingsheets 11 preferably have lap lock-type transverse seams cleated to theroofing base with the lower edge of higher roof sheets overlying theupper transverse edges of the next lower roofing sheets to provide awatertight cover for the roof or other system being protected. Thus, anywater which may work its way into the interior of a batten 10 over thesurface of the roofing sheets will pass into trough 13 and flow downthrough the continuous length thereof to discharge at its lower end.

Other variants of the illustrated embodiment are possible including onesin which each gutter length 13 is held by engagement between the upperedges of sides and the inside of the bends 29 of the clips 16.Similarly, such further variant may utilize a retainer 15 which abutsthe lower edges 24 of the clip 16 when a screw 17 is tightened withoutthe retainer having legs 19 in such case to press against bottom 21 ofgutter 13. And, the clips 16 may be positioned directly opposite to oneanother, particularly if the securing screws 27 are not toed in, or toedin to a lesser extent than shown in the first embodiment, And, otherforms and kinds of fasteners than those illustrated as wood and machinescrews may be utilized in securing battens of this invention, in whichonly holders 16 are immovably fixed to the roofing construction,although all of the members of a roof batten or the like of thisinvention are held in place because of its construction, leaving thegutter, retainer and cap members relatively unrestrained forlongitudinal movement arising out of temperature changes or otherfactors resulting in expansion and/or contraction of one or more of theparts of the new devices and therefore less subject to undue stress,strain and/or buckling.

In the second embodiment of FIGURES 9 to 12, inelusive, all parts ofbatten 10 may be made by forming operations other than extrusion andparts of such second embodiment corresponding generally in constructionand functioning to parts of the first-above described embodiment areprovided with the same reference numerals with the addition of a primeaccent thereto, respectively. In batten 10', clips 16 have flat ratherthan inclined feet or flanges 25' and screw fasteners 27' aresubstantially parallel to a vertical plane through the axes of the capand retainer fasteners 17'. Further, channel 15' is of a simple-r andcheaper construction than channel 15 being of a more regular box shape,or a generally rectangular tube is utilizable as channel 15 resting onbottom 21' of gutter 13. Clips 16' also are provided with inwardlyturned edges 24' to bear on the upper side of the respective uppercorners of channel 15' and press it against bottom 21. The clips 16 aredirectly opposed to one another as may be seen in FIGURES 9 and 11 andthe particular portion of batten 10 shown has them positioned at alocation in which a double thickness of roofing sheets 11 is presentbecause of a transverse lap at a transverse scam, the lap being suchthat the lower transverse edges of the immediately upper sheets 11overlie the upper edges of the immediately lower sheets 11. Battenmembers of this invention also may be .made of a suitable material otherthan metal, such as structural nylon.

Various changes may be made in details of the illustrated embodimentsand other embodiments provided without departing from the spirit of thisinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A roof batten or the like, comprising, in combination, an elongatedsheet metal gutter wit-h upstanding flared sides and a fiat bottom, arelatively short channel having its web generally parallel to saidbottom and its legs extending downwardly into engagement with saidbottom, a relatively short holder clip on each side of said gutterpositioned laterally within the distance between the ends of saidchannel, each clip having a base adapted to be affixed to a roof or thelike outside of said gutter, an upwardly extending outer wall generallyparalleling the adjacent side of said gutter, and a downwardly extendinginner wall forming a reentrant bend at the top with said outer wallwhich extends over said adjacent side and generally parallels saidadjacent side of said gutter, the inside of said reentrant bend beingspaced above the upper edge of said adjacent side, the lower end of saidinner wall frictionally engaging the nearer upper corner of saidchannel, an elongated sheet metal cap covering said gutter and clips andhaving downwardly extending flared sides, means for fastening said capto respective longitudinally spaced channels between said lower ends ofsaid inner walls, the underside of said cap being adapted to bindmargins of roofing sheets or the like against the outside of said bendsof said clips, and at least one cap fastener for each channel to fastensaid cap to a plurality of channels respectively along the length ofsaid cap.

2. A roof batten or the like as set forth in claim 1, comprising, saidclips being extrusions, said bases of said clips being inclineddownwardly and outwardly to permit screw fasteners to be toed-in inaffixing said clips to a roof or the like, said channel being anextrusion, said channel further having a longitudinally extending recessadjacent the upper corner on each side of said web for the seating ofsaid respective lower ends of said clips cooperating therewith, and, alongitudinally extending.

central groove in the upper surface of said web for ready location andengagement of said cap fastener.

3. A roof batten or the like as set forth in claim 1, comprising, saidgutter, channel clip and cap means being of formed metal, said gutterand cap means extending for the length of a seam on a sloping roof orthe like and comprising a plurality of elongated sections in laprelation at the respective ends of adjoining sections, said channel andclip means being relatively short and in longitudinally spacedarrangement along said gutter and cap means, each clip means for eachchannel comprising a pair of clips on generally opposite sides of saidgutter to arch over the sides of said gutter and engage said channel,said channel having downwardly extending legs engaging the bottom ofsaid gutter, and said engagement between said clip and channel means andbetween said channel and gutter means being substantially line contactin the direction of said seam.

4. A roof batten or the like as set forth in claim 3, comprising saidgutter being of trough shape in cross section, said cap being ofinverted trough shape in cross section, said channel being positionedwholly within the lower portion of said gutter, said clip beinggenerally L-shaped in cross section with a hook portion on the backthereof to engage the adjacent side of said channel respectively insidesaid gutter, the foot of said clip outside of said gutter being adaptedto be fastened to a roof or the like to hold down said channel and inturn to hold said gutter against said roof or the like.

5. A roof batten or the like comprising, in combination, a gutter withupwardly extending sides, retainer means in said gutter, holder meansseparated from said retainer means and adapted to be fastened to a roofor the like and reach over the sides of said gutter and frictionallyhold said retainer means at least against upward movement, the holdermeans having means holding down the retainer means while permittingmovement of the retainer means in a direction along the gutter, and capmeans fastened to said retainer means and adapted to press sheetmaterial against said holder means, whereby said gutter and retainermeans are held without direct attachment to a roof or the like and mayexpand and contract relatively unrestrained when said holder means is'atfixed to said roof or the like outside of said gutter, said gutterand cap means adapted to extend for the length of a seam on a roof orthe like and comprising a plurality of elongated sections in laprelation at the respective ends of adjoining sections, said retainer andholder means being shorter than said gutter and in longitudinally spacedarrangement along said gutter and cap means sections, each holder meansfor each retainer means adapted to be fastened on the outside ofopposite sides of said gutter and to reach into said gutter to engagesaid retainer means, and fastener means extending between said cap meansand said retainer means.

6. A roof batten or the like as set forth in claim 5, comprising, saidgutter, retainer, holder and cap means being of formed metal, saidgutter being of trough shape in cross section, said cap means being ofinverted trough shape in cross section, said retainer means beingpositioned wholly within the lower portion of said gutter, said holdermeans being respective clips with a hook portion at the top thereof toreach over said gutter and engage the adjacent sides of said retainermeans respectively inside said gutter, said clips being adapted to befastened to the roof or the like outside of said gutter to hold downsaid channel and in turn to hold said gutter against said roof or thelike, and a fastener extending between the said cap means and the top ofsaid retainer means generally between said clips.

7. A roof batten or the like, comprising, in combina tion, an elongatedgutter with upstanding sides and a bottom, a relatively short retainerwithin said gutter extending downwardly into frictional engagement witha lower portion of said gutter, a separate relatively short holder oneach side of said gutter positioned alongside said retainer, each holderbeing adapted to be afiixed to a roof or the like outside of said gutterand having an upwardly and generally outwardly extending outer wall anda downwardly extending inner wall forming a reentrant bend at the topwith said outer wall which extends over an adjacent side of said gutter,said inner wall being adapted to frictionally engage said retainer, saidinner wall having means holding down the retainer while permittingrelative movement between the retainer and the holder in a directionalong the gutter, an elongated cap adapted to cover said gutter andholders having downwardly extending sides and at least one cap fastenerfor each retainer to fasten said cap thereto respectively along thelength of said batten.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,907,287 10/1959 Trostle3,055,147

JACOB SHAPIRO, JACOB L. NACKENOFF, EARL J. WITMER, Examiners,

5. A ROOF BATTEN OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A GUTTER WITHUPWARDLY EXTENDING SIDES, RETAINER MEANS IN SAID GUTTER, HOLDER MEANSSEPARATED FROM SAID RETAINER MEANS AND ADAPTED TO BE FASTENED TO A ROOFOR THE LIKE AND REACH OVER THE SIDES OF SAID GUTTER AND FRICTIONALLYHOLD SAID RETAINER MEANS AT LEAST AGAINST UPWARD MOVEMENT, THE HOLDERMEANS HAVING MEANS HOLDING DOWN THE RETAINER MEANS WHILE PERMITTINGMOVEMENT OF THE RETAINER MEANS IN A DIRECTION ALONG THE GUTTER, AND CAPMEANS FASTENED TO SAID RETAINER MEANS AND ADAPTED TO PRESS SHEETMATERIAL AGAINST SAID HOLDER MEANS, WHEREBY SAID GUTTER AND RETAINERMEANS ARE HELD WITHOUT DIRECT ATTACHMENT TO A ROOF OR THE LIKE AND MAYEXPAND AND CONTACT RELATIVELY UNRESTRAINED WHEN SAID HOLDER MEANS ISAFFIXED TO SAID ROOF OR THE LIKE OUTSIDE OF SAID GUTTER, SAID GUTTER ANDCAP MEANS ADAPTED TO EXTEND FOR THE LENGTH OF A SEAM ON A ROOF OR THELIKE AND COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED SECTIONS IN LAP RELATION ATTHE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF ADJOINING SECTIONS, SAID RETAINER AND HOLDERMEANS BEING SHORTER THAN SAID GUTTER AND A IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACEDARRANGEMENT ALONG SAID GUTTER AND CAP MEANS SECTIONS, EACH HOLDER MEANSFOR EACH RETAINER MEANS ADAPTED TO BE FASTENED ON THE OUTSIDE OFOPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID GUTTER AND TO REACH INTO SAID GUTTER TO ENGAGESAID RETAINER MEANS, AND FASTENER MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID CAP MEANSAND SAID RETAINER MEANS.